Mounting and operating mechanism



Jam 20, 1942. E. E. BROSJIUS MOUNTING AND OPERATING MECHABIISM FOR MUD GUNS Filed April 9, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l fl: lNvENToR Edgar EBrosius Jan. 240, 1942.

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MOUNTING AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MUD GUNS Filed April 9, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR with consequent additional expense.

Patented Jan. 2,0, 1942 MOUNTING AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MUD GUNS Edgar E. Brosius, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application April 9, 1940, Serial No. 328,786

(Cl. 26S-42).

11 Claims.

This invention relates to mounting and operating mechanism for mud guns for plugging tapping holes of furnaces. Mud guns for introducing a clay-like material called mud into the tapping holes of furnaces, such as blast furnaces, for plugging the same have been in use for some years. One of the problems incident to the design, construction and operation of mud guns is the maintenance of the gun in tapping hole plugging position during the plugging operation. This has heretofore been done in various ways including latching the gun or the gun carriage to the furnace wall, fastening the gun in place by fastening means separate from the gun oper-' atingmechanism and carried by a furnace co1- umn or other portion of the furnace and similar expedients. However, it is undesirable to mount devices such as latches and the like directly on the furnace wall or to provide fastening means such as above mentioned. Yet no satisfactory device for holding a mud gun in tapping hole plugging position except by means connected directly with the furnace wall or by fastening means such as above mentioned has heretofore been provided.

Difficulty has also been experienced by reason of the strain imposed upon the operating mecha-v nism when movement of a mud gun toward or away from operative position is suddenly interrupted. This is especially true when the power for such movement of the gun is supplied by an electric motor equipped with a magnetic brake which becomes automatically operable to stop and hold the operating mechanism in xed position when the current to the motor is cut off. The gun is heavy and the operating `mechanism is also of necessity of considerable weight and when the gun and operating mechanism aremoving considerable inertia is developed. When the motor is suddenly stopped and the magnetic brake applied the thrust due to the inertia of the moving parts is imposed upon the operating mechanism and to provide for withstanding the force thus suddenly imposed it has been necessary to design at least certain of the parts more massively than would otherwise be necessary, ThereY is also present the possibility of failure in some portion of the mechanism.

I provide mounting and operating mechanism for mud guns which obvlates the disadvantages above mentioned. I provide for maintaining the gun in tapping hole plugging position during the plugging operation by means separate from and independent of the furnace wall and without the employment of fastening means separate from thegun operating mechanism and carried by a furnace column or other portion of the furnace. I preferably provide mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun having means for maintaining the gun in tapping hole plugging or operative position contained entirely within the mounting and operating mechanism and I eliminate the use of auxiliary latches, tracks or other fastening means. This leaves the front of the furnace free of any such auxiliary mechanism, the presence of which is considered highly undesirable, I provide means for relieving the operating parts of stress when movement of the gunis suddenly interrupted. I prefer to employ mechanism for moving the gun powered by an electric motor equipped with a magnetic brake Wired into the motor circuit so that upon cutting off the current to the motor the brake instantly and automatically becomes operative. I provide in the `operating mechanism cushioning or shock absorbing means to absorb a portion of the force imposed upon the operating parts due to the inertia of the gun and its carrying mechanism when the motor is stopped and the magnetic brake applied.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of a mud gun and its mounting and operating mechanism and showing a portion of a blast furnace having a tapping hole adapted to be plugged by mud supplied by the gun;

AFigure 2 is a top plan view of the mud gun and of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational View, somewhat diagrammatic, of a magnetic brake;

Figure 7 is a purely diagrammatic wiring diagramshowing how the coil for the solenoid of the magnetic brake is connected into the motor circuit;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing a modified structure; and

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the modified structure of Figure 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings. there is shown a blast furnace designated generally by reference numeral 2 having a wall 3 provided with a tapping hole 4 and a run-out trough 5 for molten metal flowing from the blast furnace through the tapping hole 4. Reference numeral 6 designates generally a mud gun for supplying mud to the tapping hole of the furnace to plug such hole. The gun 6 may be of any desired structure and as the construction of the gun forms no part of the present invention it will not be described in detail. It is sufcient to state that the gun has a nozzle 1 through which mud is adapted to be forced underhigh pressure to plug the tapping hole 4. The gun is operated by a motor 8 and associated mechanism.

The mud gun 6 is carried by mounting and operating mechanism mounted upon a concrete foundation 9. Fastened to the foundation 9 by bolts I is a base II having a central vertical bore I2 within which is positioned an upright tubular pedestal member I3 which serves as a pivot about which the gun moves. The gun may, if desired, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, be mounted on a furnace column instead of a separately mounted pedestal. Carried by the base II is a spur gear I4. The gear has a large hub I which is adapted to surround the upper portion of the base II so that the gear may have limited rotative movement relative to the base, as will presently appear. The base I I has a pair of bosses I 6 through each of which passes a bolt I1 carryingV a coil spring I8. The gear I4 has a vertical web I9 carrying afbutments 20 against which the respective heads 2I of the bolts I1 normally bear. As shown in Figure 2, when the parts are at rest each bolt head bears against the corresponding abutment 20, being pressed thereagainst by its,L

spring I8. Limitedrrotative movement of the gear I4 about the base I I is permittedj due to the resilience of the springs I8. movement is small and the gear I4 is in effect substantially a stationary gear or base member cushioned in each direction by a shock absorbing spring.

Rotatively mounted on the pedestal YI 3 is a gun carrying arm 22. Such arm has bearings 23 about which it is adapted to rotate around the pedestal. The arm 22 carries an electric motor 24 whose shaft 25 is equipped with an automatic magnetic brake 25. its inner end a spur pinion 21 meshing with a spur gear 28 keyed` to a shaft 29. Also keyed to the shaft 29 is a worm gear 30, which is preferably a non-reversible worm. Such worm gear meshes with a worm wheel 2| keyed to a vertical shaft 32 mounted in the arm 22 andl havingv a spur pinion 33 connected therewith at its lower end. The spur pinion 33 meshes with, the spur gear I4.

The mud gun 6 is carried Iby a swivel mounting 34 at thev outer end of the arm 22. The gun may swivel in a horizontal plane about the mounting 34` and may also be tilted in a vertical plane about a tilting trunnion 35,

Connected with the pedestal I3 at its upper end is a cam 36" and also a cap 31 having vertically spaced lateral projections 38 anda. The cam 36 surrounds. the pedestal I3 above the upper bearing 23 and is fastenedto the pedestalin Howevery such` The motor shaftV carries at,

non-rotative position relatively thereto by set screws 36a. The cap 31 is keyed to the pedestal at 31a and is fastened by a bolt 39 passing through the cap and through a plate 40 welded within the upper end of the pedestal. An adjustable link 4I has one end positioned between the projections 38 and 38a of the cap 31 where it is pivoted to the cap by a pin 42 passing through the link and the cap projections. At its other end the link is pivoted to a bracket 43 at 44, the bracket 43 being carried above the swivel mounting 34 and above the outer end of the arm 22 and being horizontally rotatable with the swivel mounting 34.. A bell crank lever 45 is pivoted at 46 to a f; bracket 41 carried `by the arm 22 and has a follower 48 operating on the cam 36. The cam 36 i-s circular except for a single raised portion as shown. The opposite end of the bell crank lever 45 has connected therewith a cable 49 connected through an adjustable turnbuckle 56 with a cable 5I which passes about a sheave 52 carried by the bracket 43. The outer end of the cable 5I is fastened at 53 to a bracket 54 carried by the gun 6.

A form of magnetic brake which may be employed is shown in Figure 6. The brake is designated generally by reference numeral 26. The shaft of the motor 24 is shown at 25. A brake wheel 55 is xed to the shaft 25. Two opposed brake shoes 56 cooperate with the brake wheel 55 as shown. Each of the shoes 56 is carried by a frame 51 pivoted at 53 to the base 59. Pivoted to the right-hand frame 51 at 69 is a bell crank lever designated generally by reference numeral 6I having a lon.g generally horizontal arm 62 and a short generally vertical arm 63. Pivoted to the arm 63 at 64 is an operating rod 65 whose opposite end is adjustably connected with the left-hand frame 51 as shown at 66.

Adjacent its right-hand end viewing Figure 6 the arm 62 of the bell crank lever 6I is connected with the plunger of a solenoid indicated diagrammatically at 61, the solenoid coil being in series with the armature of the motor 24 and being so constructed and arranged that whenv it is energized the right-hand end of the arm 62 is moved downwardly and when it is deenergized the right-hand end of the arm 62 is free to move upwardly as will presently be described.

The arm 624 is normally urged in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot 66 by a compression spring 68 bearing between a plate 69 which in turn bears against a` pin 69 in the righthand frame 51 and a plate 10 which bears against the bottom 1i of a sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 slides upon a guide rod 13' which at its lower end is pivoted to the pin 69' and at its upper end passes through an opening 16 in the arm 62. The sleeve 'I2 has trunnions 14 at its upper end which are received by slots 15 in the under surface of the arm 62.

The particular brake shown is substantially a standard Westinghouse model and many other equivalentl brakes may be employed instead. Figure 7 shows purely diagrammatically the circuit for the motor armature and the solenoid coil. The circuit is designated by reference numeral 11, the motor armature by reference numeral 18 and the solenoid coil by reference numeral 19.v

The switch is indicated diagrammatically at 80. When the switch 89 is closed the solenoid coil 19 (this being the coil of the solenoid 61 of Figure 6) is energized, which moves the solenoid plunger downwardly and turns the arm 62 in the clockwise direction about the pin 60, compressing the spring 68. This results Vin moving the brake shoes :away from the brake wheel 55 and rendering the brake inoperative. At the same time, of course, the motor 24 operates.

. `When the switch 8i] is opened the motor 24 stops and the coil T9 is deenergized, whereupon thespring 68 moves the arm 62 in the counterclockwise direction about the pin 60, forcing the brake shoes 56 against the brake wheel 55 and applying the brake.

. The operation of the mounting and operating mechanism will now be described. Figures 4 and Hshow the mud gun anditsassociated mechanism in inoperative position. The gun when inoperative points generally away fromthe furnace and is disposed at the opposite side of the pedestal from the tapping hole and metal runout trough. When the tapping hole is to be plugged the gun is first brought into position with its nozzle 'I inserted into the tapping hole and `pressed against the furnace at the tapping hole and while the gun is maintained in such position it is operated by means of its motor 8 to Y introduce mud into the tapping hole to plug the same. To bring thegun into operative position it is swung about the pedestal I3. To accomplish this current is applied to the motor 24 and the pinion 2'I on the motor shaft 25 meshes with the gear 25 on the shaft 29to rotate such shaft clockwise viewing Figure 3. The non-reversible worm 36 cooperating with worm wheel 3l rotates the shaft 32 inthe clockwise direction, viewing Figures 2 and 4. As the pinion 33 `is keyed to the shaft `32 and meshes with the comparatively stationary gear I4 this results in swinging of the gun carrying arm 22 about the axis of the pedestal I3 in the clockwise direction, viewing Figures 2 and 4.

As the arm 22 swings in the clockwise direction from the position lshown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 2 the angularity of the gun relatively to the arm is changed by the link 4I, insuring that as the nozzle of the gun is moving into the tapping hole it will move substantially in a vertical plane containing the axis of the tapping hole. Also, as the nozzle of the gun nears the furnace the cam follower 48 begins to climb up the raised portion of the cam 36, which moves-the free end of the bell crank lever 45 in a direction away from the gun. This draws the cable 5I upwardly and inwardly toward the pedestal about the sheave 52, resulting in raising the rear end of the gun and consequently depressing the nozzle of the gun so that when it reaches the tapping hole it will enter the same in proper angular relation and substantially coaxially with the tapping hole.

When operation of the motor 24 is initiated to swing the arm 22 in the clockwise direction about the pedestal I3 the thrust upon the gear I4 is such as to cause such gear to tend to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, viewing Figures 2 and 4. However, the left-hand spring I8, viewing such figures, prevents such rotation of the tionary or base member upon which the movable mechanism bears to swing the arm 22 about the pedestal I4. The arm 22 is swung about the pedestal and the link 4I causes the angular movement between the gun and the arm described above. As the nozzle of the gun nears the furnace its forward end is depressed by the action of the cam 46, the bell crank lever 45 and the cooperating mechanism,v so that upon continued angular movement of the arm 22 the nozzleof the gun enters the tapping hole 4. Ordinarily the gun nozzle and the tapping'hole are of complementary shape so that the gun nozzle is adapted to seat itself within the tapping hole. Operation of the motor 24 is continued as the gun nozzle seats itself within the tapping hole, such continued operation of the motor resulting in pressing of the gun nozzle against the furnace with increasing pressure. Such increasing pressure isresisted by the operating mechanism and is accompanied by further compression of the left-hand spring I8, viewing Figures 2 and 4. When the torque in the motor shaft 25 has risen to the point at which the motor 24 has substantiallytreached the stalling point current to the motor 24 is cut olf and the magnetic brake 26 is instantly applied to prevent any substantial retrograde movement of the motor shaft 25.

The magnetic brake 26 remains operative during plugging of the tapping hole, after which it is released and the motor 24 operated in the direction opposite to the direction of its operation above described. This results in withdrawal of the gun nozzle from the tapping hole and move-- ment of the arm 22 and the gun 6 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 4. `During such movement the thrust of the moving parts is taken by the right-hand spring I8, viewing Figures 2 and 4. In Figures l, 2 and 3 the gun is shown with its nozzle ready to enter the tapping hole but not seated therein in plugging position.

If atiany time while the gun carrying arm 22 and the gun 6 are being moved as above described it is desired to interrupt their movement this is done by cutting off the current to the motor 24. Such cutting off of the current is accompanied by immediate and automatic application of the magnetic brake 26, which in effect locks the motor shaft. However, due to the inertia of the moving parts the arm tends to continue its swinging movement after application of the brake. The operating mechanism is partially relieved of the stress thus imposed upon the parts by the cushioning or shock absorbing springs I8. When the stoppage occurs upon movement of the gun toward tapping hole plugging position the righthand spring I3, viewing Figures 2 and 4, becomes operative to perform the shock absorbing function. When the gun is moving away from tapping hole plugging position the left-hand spring, viewing Figures 2 and 4; serves the purpose. The provision of such means reduces any danger of failure which might otherwise exist and makes possible a substantial saving in the cost of certain of the operating parts.

No supporting or guiding `mechanism other than that above described is required for insuring proper movement of the gun and introduction of the gun nozzle into the tapping hole of the furnace and maintaining it there. No latch, track or other auxiliary mechanism is fastened to any part of the furnace and the space in front of the furnace about the tapping hole is left entirely clear.

In Figures 8 and 9 there is shown a modified form of structure which is, generally speaking, the functional equivalent of the structure shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, except that instead of being mounted upon a pedestal it is carried by a furnace column l'3-. The specific form of the mounting and operating mechanism for the column mounted gun is somewhat different from the specic form of theA mounting and operating mechanism for the pedestal mounted gun, but since the two mechanisms function in the same general Way the details of the mounting and operating mechanism for the column mounted gun shown in Figures 8 and 9 Will not be de.- scribed in detail. Elements in Figures 8 and 9 corresponding generally to numbered elements in Figures l to 7, inclusive, have the same reference numerals applied but with a prime affixed. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 269,825.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise vari- ,ously embodied Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising a resiliently mounted member against which gun moving pressure is adapted to be applied and means acting against said resiliently mounted member for moving the gun into tapping hole plugging position.

2. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising means for moving the gun into tapping hole plugging position, said means including a resiliently mounted gear and means acting against said gear for moving the gun.

3. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising supporting means for the gun, resilient shock absorbing means connected with the supporting means, and means acting against said resilient means for moving the gun into tapping hole plugging position.

4. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising a member against which gun moving pressure is adapted to be applied mounted for limited resiliently yieldable movement in each of two directions, and means acting against said member in one of said directions for moving the gun toward tapping hole plugging position and acting against said member in the other of lsaid directions for moving the gun away from tapping hole plugging position.

5. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun, comprising means for supporting the gun movable to press the nozzle of the gun into a tapping hole of a furnace to plug the same and means separate from and independent of the furnace wall for maintaining the gun in operative position with its nozzle pressed into-the tapping hole of the furnace during plugging of the hole, said last mentioned means including a motor-driven shaft, connections between said shaft and the gun whereby upon rotation of the shaft the gun is moved into said operative position and a magnetic brake for said shaft.

6. Mounting and operating mechanism for a. mud gun. for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising means for moving the gun into tapping hole plugging position, brake means automatically applicable to said means upon stoppage thereof to hold the same against movement, and shock absorbing means to absorb stress in said mechanism upon application of the brake means.

7. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising a support for the gun, means for moving the support to position the gun for plugging the tapping hole, brake means applicable to a portion of said means upon stoppage thereof, and yieldable means to absorb pressure in said first mentioned means upon application of the brake means.

8. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising an electric motor for moving the gun into tapping hole plugging position, a magnetic brake electrically connected with said inotor and automatically operable upon cutting off of the current to said motor to hold the motor shaft against rotation, and shock absorbing means to absorb stress in said mechanism upon application of said magnetic brake.

9. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising a gun carriage, a support for the gun carriage at all times spaced from the furnace front and means connected between the gun carriage and its support for moving the gun carriage relatively to the support to bring the gun into tapping hole plugging position with the nose of the gun in the tapping hole and in contact with the Afurnace and locking the gun carriage in such position.

10. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising a gun carriage, a support for the gun carriage at all times spaced from the furnace front, means connected between the gun carriage and its support for moving the gun carriage relatively to the support to bring the gun into tapping hole plugging position with the nose of the gun in the tapping hole and in contact with the furnace and means also connected between the gun carriage and its support for lock# ing the gun carriage in such position.

ll. Mounting and operating mechanism for a mud gun for plugging a tapping hole of a furnace, comprising a gun carriage, a generally upright pivot about which the gun carriage is adapted to be swung generally horizontally and means connected between the gun carriage and said pivot for swinging the gunI carriage generally horizontally about the pivot to bring the gun into tapping hole plugging position with the nose of the gun in the tapping hole and in contact with the furnace and locking the gun carriage in such position, said means constituting the sole means for locking the gun carriage in such position.

EDGAR E. BROSIUS. 

